The internet is awash with files containing viruses, so when your computer tells you that you've downloaded malware, it's sensible to take heed of the warning. Sometimes, however, Windows (or your antivirus software), gets it wrong and marks a safe program or file as malicious. Known as 'false positives', these alerts can stop you running software that's completely harmless. False positives can occur for several reasons. As we explain later, problems with the software's digital signature is a common cause, but a program's ability to perform certain tasks can also mark it as suspect. A number of tools developed by NirSoft for recovering lost passwords (www.snipca.com/33677), for example, are often flagged as dangerous by antivirus software because they could be used maliciously, even if you have no plans to do so. AutoHotkey (www. autohotkey.com), which lets you create and run scripts on your computer, is another that often worries security software.
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